Litigation

Chamber Spin-Off Spends Big in Ohio Races

By Peter Hardin

The Partnership for Ohio?s Future, which has received funding from the Ohio and U.S. Chambers of Commerce, spent more than $1.57 million in support of two Republican candidates for the Ohio Supreme Court through Oct. 13.

The Partnership poured almost $1.1 million into TV airtime to support the reelection of Justice Judith Lanzinger and more than $364,000 on airtime in support of the candidacy of Justice Maureen O’Connor for chief justice, according to data reported by the Money in Politics blog of Ohio Citizen Action. You can read the independent expenditure reports by .

In addition, the Partnership spent more than $118,000 on postcards in support of the two.

Justice O?Connor is challenging recently appointed Chief Justice Eric Brown, a Democrat. Lanzinger is being challenged by Democratic appellate judge Mary Jane Trapp.

The Partnership for Ohio?s Future spent an estimated $684,000 on TV ads in 2008, outspending the candidates on the ballot. And various chamber affiliates have spent a total of $7.6 million on independent election efforts in Ohio since 2000, according to the ?New Politics 2000-2009? report of Justice at Stake and its partner groups. You can learn more about the Partnership for Ohio’s Future efforts from a recent Justice at Stake press release.

According to the Money in Politics blog, Justice O?Connor?s campaign has raised just under $850,000 in contributions and Justice Lanzinger?s, more than $790,000. Chief Justice Brown has raised nearly $550,000 and Judge Trapp, just under $515,500.

To learn more about the Ohio election, click here for Gavel Grab or by checking out the JAS Ohio news page. Ohio Citizen Action is a JAS partner group.

Full post as published by The Gavel on October 25, 2010 (boomark / email).